Bottle carrier



E. A. ZARLINSKI BOTTLE CARRIER Aug. 1, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 17, 1964 INVENTOR. EUGENE A. ZARLINSKI A T TORNE YS Aug. 1, 1967 E. A. ZARLINSKI 3,333,730 I BOTTLE CARRIER Filed Dec. 17, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet a INVENTOR. EUGENE A. ZARLINSKI 2m A? BY i w J y y ATTORNEYS E. A. ZARLINSKI BOTTLE CARRIER Aug. 1, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 17, 1964 INVENTOR. EUGENE A. ZA RLINSKI ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,333,730 BO'ITLE CARRIER Eugene A. Zarlinski, 27697 Fullerwood Drive, Euclid, Ohio 44117 Filed Dec. 17, 1964, Ser. No. 418,999 8 Claims. (Cl. 220-117) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A carrier formed from narrow straps with a transverse strap being perpendicular to the base strap and dividing the carrier into compartments. A detachable handle is secured to the upper edge of the carrier.

This invention relates to the field of carriers for bottles and more particularly to a plastic bottle carrier which is particularly designed for the transporting of milk bottles.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a plastic bottle carrier which is lightweight, inexpensive, flexible in usage and capacity, and adaptable for carrying not only glass bottles but also paper cartons and plastic bottles.

A more particular object of the invention is to provide a plastic bottle carrier which has ample strength characteristics but which utilizes simple structural elements requiring a minimum of plastic material.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bottle carrier design which may be readily adapted to transporting two, four or six bottles.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a plastic carrier in which a detachable handle is secured to the basket portion of the carrier, spans the entire width of the carrier and is coextensive with the adjacent portions of the basket.

A still more specific object of the invention is to provide a carrier for milk bottles or the like comprising a first U-shaped web, a second U-shaped web transverse to said first U-shaped web, with the two webs being rigidly interconnected at the juncture thereof, a peripheral web interconnecting the upper ends of said U-shaped webs thereby to form a basket adapted to receive and retain bottles therein, said second web including a T-shaped portion on each leg of the U-shaped web with a leg of the T-shaped portion being perpendicular to the plane of the legs of said second web and extending into the interior of said basket thereby to divide the basket in compartments, a handle for said basket, means securing said handle to said peripheral web adjacent to said second web, said handle including a T-shaped portion having legs coextensive with the perpendicular legs on said second web.

Other objects and features will become more apparent upon a complete reading of the following description which sets forth in detail but a few approved means of carrying out the invention. Such disclosed means are not meant to be limiting inasmuch as they constitute but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be applied.

In the drawings wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts in the various views:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the carrier comprising the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the carrier.

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Referring first to FIG. 1, there is illustrated the carrier comprising the instant invention and indicated generally by the reference numeral 10. As shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1, the carrier 10 is adapted to receive a pair of gallon size milk bottles 11. The bottles are received in two compartments formed in a basket portion of the carrier with a handle being provided to facilitate transportation of the carrier and the milk bottles.

Turning to the specifics of the carrier, the basket portion of the carrier, indicated generally by the reference numeral 12, comprises a plurality of straps or narrow Webs with a first U-shaped longitudinal web 13 comprising the main portion of the basket. At the center point of the web 13 is an upstanding transverse U-shaped web 14. It is readily apparent that the transverse extent of the Web 14 is substantially greater than the width of the web 13. Completing the basket and interconnecting the ends of the two U-shaped webs 13, 14 is a peripheral web 15 which has a transverse dimension equal to that of the Web 14 and a longitudinal dimension equal to the web It is to be noted that the only means for supporting a milk bottle is the combination of the web 13 and the peripheral web 15. Thus, the base portion 16 of the longitudinal web 13 provides an underlying support for the milk bottles placed in the basket. The peripheral web 15 restrains the bottles 11 from being shifted off the underlying supporting web 16. In addition, the peripheral web 15 provides support for the web 13 and resists any tendency of the web 13 to be deformed by the weight of the bottles.

The transverse web 14 performs a duality of functions. Thus, the web 14 provides a reinforcing support for the center portion of the web 16 thereby to prevent deflection. Also, the web 14 performs the function of separating the milk bottles to prevent any undesirable clanking noise due to impacts between the bottles and also possible shattering of the bottles. The transverse web 14 is a composite of a plurality of elements and includes the transverse base 17 and two upstanding leg portions 18 at opposite ends of the base. The upstanding leg portions 18 are interconnected at their upper ends to the peripheral web 15 and thus provide a support and interconnection between the peripheral web and the base web 16. The base web 17 extends substantially perpendicular to the plane of the base 16 of the web 13 and thereby provides a dividing or separating function between the two compartments in the basket.

Additional structure is formed on the two leg portions 18 of the transverse web. This structure is in the form of a vertical member 19 having a substantially T-shaped cross section with a leg 20 projecting perpendicular to the plane of the leg portion 18. The upper portion 20a of the leg 20 extends beyond the vertical member 19 with this upper portion being secured directly to the leg portion 18. The lower end of the leg 20 is integrally formed and coextensive with the base web 17 thereby to provide a separating function not only at the base of the bottles but along the side edges as well. Moreover, the thickened section resultingv from the combination of the leg portions 18 and the T-shaped member 19 provides additional strength for the support of the center base web 16. In this connection, it also should be noted that the perpendicular orientation of both the base 17 of the transverse web 14 and the peripheral web 15 gives added strength to the structure as opposed to the placement of these Webs in the same plane as the base member 16, it being understood that edge loading of the member is permissible at higher levels of force.

The basket thus described is divided into two compartments adapted to receive a pair of gallon size milk bottles. For transporting the same, a handle, indicated generally by the reference numeral 25, is provided, which handle includes a pair of upstanding side portions 26. The side portions are interconnected by a hand grip 27 of thickened cross section with generally bevelled edges to contribute to the comfort of the user. The transverse extent of the handle 25 .is less than the transverse width of the peripheral web 15 but, as is apparent from an inspection of FIG. 1, the width of the handle is substantially equal to the transverse extent of the base 17 on the transverse web 14. In such circumstances, the handle is snugly received within the confines of the peripheral web 15. The lower ends 28 of the side portions 26 are adapted to abut the vertical members 19 and, in effect, the coextensive therewith. Since the legs 20 extend above the end of the members 19, slots 29 are formed in the ends 28 of the side portions 26 thereby providing an accommodation for the upper portions 20a of the legs without interfering with the relationship of the members 19 and the side portions.

The construction of the side portions of the handle 25 is substantially identical to the leg portions 18 and includes a T-shaped member 30 similar to the T-shaped member 19. A perpendicular leg 31 is substantially coextensive with the perpendicular leg 20 so that in the assembled position, the leg 31 is essentially a coextension of the leg 20 thereby providing a divider between the compartments not only in the basket portion but at the handle area as well. A transverse web 32 extends between the two side portions 26 at a point spaced below the handle 27 and adds additional rigidity to the handle and the assembled structure.

The handle is attached to the basket by lugs 33 which are formed on the lower ends 28 of each of the side portions 26. The lugs are adapted to be received in apertures 34 formed in the peripheral web 15. The apertures are substantially centered on the side portions 18 of the transverse web 14 thereby providing a symmetrical lifting moment for the basket. In addition, a thickened portion 35 is provided at the area of the web 15 where the apertures are formed to provide additional strength. The thickened portion also serves a guiding function for the handle and adds to the lateral rigidity of the interconnection between the handle and the basket.

Referring to FIG. 4, it is apparent that the lugs 33 include a smooth lower surface and a recessed upper surface defining a locking portion 36 which coacts with the peripheral web to prevent inadvertent separation of the handle from the basket while the carrier is being transported. These lugs, together with the slotted openings 29 formed in each side portion 26, also serve to prevent tilting of the basket relative to the handle when only a single bottle is being carried.

It is apparent from a review of the above-described structure that a milk bottle carrier has been devised which is extremly simple in form and inexpensive to produce. In addition, it is lightweight and is readily assembled for use. The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 is a two bottle carrier. However, it is to be understood that additional sizes utilizing the same basic principles of the invention could be devised. One such typical construction is shown in FIG. 6 wherein a four bottle carrier is illusstrated. In this embodiment, a' pair of U-shaped longitudinal webs 13' are provided for support of the bottles. The peripheral web 15 includes the provision of apertures to receive lugs 33 on either end of a handle 25'. A transverse web 14 spans the width of the carrier at its center and is identical at either end to the Web 14 shown in FIG. 1. In addition, a vertical reinforcement 37 provides additional strength for supporting the mid section of the carrier, This structural member 37 is interconnected with the transverse supporting web 38 on the handle 25' and continues upwardly to interconnect with the top of the handle. A separating web 39 interconnects the peripheral web 15 with the vertical reinforcement web 37.

The alternative embodiment of FIG. 6 thus includes the salient features of the embodiment of FIG. 1 including the composite sections for the transverse web 14 and the side portions of the handle thereby providing a simple, yet strong, detachable connection between the handle and the basket. Moreover, the carrier has no excess material contributing to the weight of the container. Only simple webs of materials are utilized with each web advantageously oriented to withstand the maximum loading.

Other configurations will suggest themselves to those having ordinary skill in the art. However, the essential features of the invention including the greatly simplified basket construction together with the novel interconnection of the various basket defining ,webs to provide a rigid structure are what is intended to be coveredherem. Therefore, although for ease of description, the prmciples of the invention have been set forth in connection with but a few illustrated embodiments, it is not intended that these illustrated embodiments or the terminology employed in describing them is to be limiting, but rather, it is my desired to be restricted only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A carrier for milk bottles or the like comprising:

a first longitudinally extending U-shaped web;

a second U-shaped web transverse to said first web with the two webs being rigidly interconnected at the 111m!- ture thereof;

than the lateral width of said first web;

a peripheral web interconnecting the upper ends of said thereby to form a basket adapted to.

U-shaped webs receive and retain bottles therein;

said second web including a T-shaped portion on each leg of the web with a leg of the T-shaped portion being perpendicular to the plane of said second web and extending into the interior of said basket thereby to divide the basket into compartments;

a handle for said basket;

means securing said handle to said peripheral web adjacent said second web;

said handle including a T-shaped portion on opposite sides thereof with a leg of the T-shaped portion being coextensive with the perpendicular leg on said second web.

2. The carrier of claim 1 wherein said means securing said handle to said peripheral web comprises apertures formed in said peripheral web and lug'means on said handle receivable in said apertures thereby to secure said handle detachably to said web.

3. The carrier of claim 1 wherein said handle includes a transverse web intermediate the height of said handle;

said transverse web being in substantially the same plane as said second web.

4. A carrier for milk-bottles or the like comprising:

a first longitudinally extending U-shaped strap including a base portion and upstanding leg portions at either end of said baseportion;

the plane of said base portion being horizontal in the upright position of the carrier;

a strap member extending transverse to said base portion intermediate the length thereof and connected to said base portion only atthe juncture thereof;

the transverse extent of said strap member being substantially greater than the width dimension of said base portion with substantially equal portions of said strap member being disposed on opposite sides of said base portion;

the plane of said strap member being perpendicular to the plane of said base portion;

upstanding side members secured to opposite ends of said strap member;

a narrow peripheral strap interconnecting the upper ends of said side members and said leg portions thereby forming a basket; and

handle means secured to said basket;

said handle means having a grip with a width substantially equal to the transverse extent of said strap member with said handle being secured to said basket proximate the point of interconnection of said side members with said peripheral strap.

5. A carrier for milk bottles or the like comprising:

a basket;

vertically extending means on opposed side portions of said basket extending into the interior of said basket thereby to divide said basket into compartments;

said means extending over substantially the entire vertical height of said basket;

a handle adapted to be secured to said basket;

said handle comprising a spaced apart pair of side members and a hand-gripping member interconnecting one end of said members;

said handle having a width dimension substantially equal to the width of said basket;

the other end of said side members each having an open slot formed therein adapted to receive the upper end of said vertically extending means on said basket to prevent pivoting of said basket relative to said handle; and

means detachably connecting said handle to said basket.

6. The carrier of claim 5 wherein said detachable connecting means comprises aperture means formed in the upper edge of said basket adjacent the upper end of said vertically extending means;

lug means on the lower ends of said side members;

said lug means being transverse to the plane of said side members and including a locking portion formed thereon;

said lug means being adapted to be received in said aperture means with said lug means cooperating with the walls of said aperture means to retain said handle secured to said basket.

7. The carrier of claim 4 wherein each of said side members includes a portion T-shaped in cross section with the leg of the T-shaped portion being coplanar with said strap member.

8. The carrier of claim 4 including means detachably securing said handle to said basket;

said detachable securing means including elongated open slots formed in the ends of said handle means; lug means projecting from said handle means adjacent said slots; apertures in said peripheral strap adapted to receive said lug means; and means on said basket adjacent said apertures receivable in said slots for preventing pivoting movement of said handle relative to said basket when said handle is secured to said basket.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 25,707 1/ 1965 DeChelbor 220-102 3,055,542 9/1962 Russo 220104 3,232,476 2/1966 Cloyd 220-102 3,281,010 10/1966 Moore et al. 220102 JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner. GEORGE O. RALSTON, Examiner. 

1. A CARRIER FOR MILK BOTTLES OR THE LIKE COMPRISING: A FIRST LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING U-SHAPED WEB; A SECOND U-SHAPED WEB TRANSVERSE TO SAID FIRST WEB WITH THE TWO WEBS BEING RIGIDLY INTERCONNECTED AT THE JUNCTURE THEREOF; THE TRANSVERSE EXTENT OF SAID SECOND WEB BEING GREATER THAN THE LATERAL WIDTH OF SAID FIRST WEB; A PERIPHERAL WEB INTERCONNECTING THE UPPER ENDS OF SAID U-SHAPED WEBS THEREBY TO FORM A BASKET ADAPTED TO RECEIVE AND RETAIN BOTTLES THEREIN; SAID SECOND WEB INCLUDING A T-SHAPED PORTION ON EACH LEG OF THE WEB WITH A LEG OF TEH T-SHAPED PORTION BEING PERPENDICULAR TO THE PLANE OF SAID SECOND WEB AND EXTENDING INTO THE INTERIOR OF SAID BASKET THEREBY TO DIVIDE THE BASKET INTO COMPARTMENTS; A HANDLE FOR SAID BASKET; MEANS SECURING SAID HANDLE TO SAID PERIPHERAL WEB ADJACENT SAID SECOND WEB; 